A student creates this comparison statement: 1.512 > 1.58.

Is the statement true or false, and why?

A.
It is true. 512 is greater than 58.
B.
It is false. The 8 in the hundredths place of 1.58 is greater than the 1 in the hundredths place of 1.512.
C.
It is true. A four-digit number is always greater than a three-digit number.
D.
It is false. The last digit of 1.58 is greater than the last digit of 1.512.

1 answer

The comparison statement "1.512 > 1.58" is false.

To determine this, we can compare the two numbers directly:

  • 1.512 has a tenths place of 5, a hundredths place of 1, and a thousandths place of 2.
  • 1.58 has a tenths place of 5 and a hundredths place of 8.

When comparing decimal numbers, we look at each digit from left to right. The tenths digit in both numbers is 5, so we move to the hundredths place. In 1.512, the hundredths digit is 1, and in 1.58, the hundredths digit is 8. Since 8 is greater than 1, that makes 1.58 larger than 1.512.

Therefore, the correct answer is:

B. It is false. The 8 in the hundredths place of 1.58 is greater than the 1 in the hundredths place of 1.512.